Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to make homes carbon neutral.

James Wharton: The energy performance standards for new homes were strengthened by over 30% during the last Parliament. The latest changes to standards came into force last year and it is important for those changes to be given time to bed in. The Government therefore is keeping the energy standards for homes under review.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Syria: Islamic State

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on tackling Islamic State militants in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have discussed the situation in Syria with the Israeli authorities on several occasions. Our Ambassador to Israel raised the issue with the Israeli Defence Minister on 27 August and more recently with officials from the Israeli National Security Council on 9 September. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (David Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond) discussed security in the region with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 10 September.

Syria: Refugees

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the migration of refugees from Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond) has discussed the issue of the migration of Syrian refugees with Secretary of State Kerry, and will be doing so again later this week.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to address the root causes of the migrant situation in the Mediterranean.

Mr David Lidington: The government believes that the root causes of migration must be addressed, and not just the symptoms. A comprehensive solution is needed that will reduce the pull and push factors causing people to leave their countries of origin. We must also address the transit routes being used, as well as disrupting the criminal elements who are smuggling and trafficking humans. We are working closely with EU and international partners to find such a solution.Because it is the gateway to western Mediterranean irregular migration, the government is also working with other countries to bring about a functioning government in Libya.The government has provided substantial development and humanitarian assistance to help refugees from the civil war in Syria. The Unted Kingdom has now committed more than £1 billion of aid to help people displaced by the conflict there, both within Syria and in neighbouring countries, and to encourage stability. This makes the UK the EU’s largest donor, and second largest donor (after the USA) overall.United Kingdom support has helped to provide more than 20 million food rations, 2.5 million medical consultations, and given 1.6 million people access to clean water . The UK is providing education to a quarter of a million children in the area.Additionally, the Prime Minister announced on 7 September that the UK will resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees from the region over the course of this parliament.An EU/Africa Summit in Valletta in November offers the opportunity to develop a robust and comprehensive set of proposals to deal with the upstream cause of irregular migration. We are fully engaged in the preparations.The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the member for Putney (Ms Greening) and I have all discussed preparations for Valetta with other European governments and the European Commission.

Colombia: Venezuela

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the situation along the Colombia-Venezuela border.

Mr Hugo Swire: On 19 August, Venezuelan authorities closed part of the border with Colombia and declared a State of Exception (SoE) in some municipalities. The SoE now includes municipalities in the states of Zulia, Apure and Táchira and the border is now closed in five out of six of Colombia’s departments. The Colombian Ministry of Defence reported that, on 13 September, unauthorised Venezuelan military aircraft entered Colombian airspace. Our Embassies in Bogotá and Caracas are monitoring the situation closely. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian affairs reported that over 20,000 Colombians have left Venezuela in four weeks, over 1,500 of whom were deported. There are ongoing reports of humanitarian concerns, that many of those deported have had their houses destroyed and there have been other complaints of serious mistreatment. I welcome the talks between the two governments’ respective Foreign Ministers, sponsored by Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), on 12 September, and the announcement that President Santos and President Maduro have agreed to hold bilateral talks. I hope that a diplomatic solution can be found to end the current crisis.

Saudi Arabia: Christianity

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the main conclusions were of his Department's recent discussions with the Saudi Arabian government on the persecution of Christians in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government’s position on human rights in Saudi Arabia is a matter of public record. We regularly make our views well known, including through the UN Universal Periodic Review process and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. We continue to raise human rights concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2015 to Question 2124, how many beneficiaries under each round of the Regional Growth Fund have by mutual agreement not drawn down the full amount that was made available to them.

Anna Soubry: The table below sets out the number of beneficiaries under Rounds 1 to 3 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) who have by mutual agreement not drawn down the full amount that was made available to them. Round 4 is still being concluded and subsequent rounds of the Fund are ongoing with many of the beneficiaries still within their payment period.RGF RoundNumber of beneficiaries*19234329These figures exclude projects where the balance of unclaimed grant is less than £10,000 as the minimum RGF grant is £1 million.

Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Jo Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support small businesses in (a) Suffolk, (b) the East of England and (c) England and Wales.

Jo Churchill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps are being taken to support entrepreneurs in (a) Suffolk, (b) the East of England and (c) England and Wales.

Anna Soubry: We are supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses in many ways and are committed to making sure the UK is the best place in Europe to start and grow a business.For example Start-up Loans provide new entrepreneurs with start-up finance and advice. And the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme encourages lenders, such as banks, to lend to smaller businesses that would not ordinarily get a loan. The table below shows how much both schemes have lent to small businesses in Suffolk, East of England and England and Wales. Start-Up LoansEnterprise Finance GuaranteeSuffolk222 Start Up Loans issued totalling £1.04m296 EFG loans issued totalling £27.1mEast of England2,096 issued totalling £9.9m2,131 issued totalling £219.2mEngland and Wales29,736 issued totalling £159.6m.  22,755 issued totalling £2,317.7m   The Government is also supporting small firms through grant funding provided by Innovate UK to support science and technology innovations that will grow the economy. In 2014/15 around 60% of Innovate UK’s funding went to small & medium sized enterprises. In the same period expenditure to micro and small enterprises in the East of England was £18.8m.Growth hubs across England make sure that small businesses can access this support and other local and private sector support available to start and grow a business. There are currently 29 growth hubs delivering business support to around 79% of the registered business population. The remaining hubs are due to roll out across England by March 2016. The New Anglia Growth Hub provides support to businesses in the Suffolk area and has helped over 3,000 businesses and created 450 jobs. Four hubs currently provide support to businesses in the East of England area.And the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership has secured over £220m as part of their Growth Deal to help transform the economy of Norfolk and Suffolk. This money will fund a range of initiatives including road improvements, building new innovation centres and providing grants to help businesses grow.

Sunday Trading

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many responses have been received to the consultation on the devolution of Sunday trading laws from (a) small businesses, (b) large businesses, (c) trades unions, (d) faith groups, (e) individuals and (f) others.

Joseph Johnson: The consultation closed on 16 September and the Department is currently in the process of analysing the responses. A full breakdown of the number of responses by category will be provided as part of the Government’s response to the consultation.

Sunday Trading

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when the Government plans to publish a family impact assessment relating to the proposal to devolve and deregulate Sunday trading laws.

George Freeman: We expect to publish the results of the Family Test alongside the Government’s response to the consultation shortly.

Postal Services

Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on the number of post boxes from which collections are made (a) only before 10am and (b) throughout the day (i) on the Isle of Wight and (ii) nationally; and what the equivalent figures were in 2012.

George Freeman: The Government does not hold any such data. Providing Royal Mail as the designated Universal Service Provider for the UK maintains its network of post-boxes in accordance with the framework set by Ofcom, the postal services regulator, decisions relating to local post boxes are made on operational grounds by Royal Mail’s management.In 2014, Royal Mail announced plans to increase the number of post-boxes around the country to account for any local impact of new collection times. The company’s initiative involved moving low volume post-boxes to “collection on delivery” with postal workers emptying the box on their delivery round rather than providing an additional dedicated collection by van. In such cases, Royal Mail have said that they will ensure that there is a late-posting box within half a mile of each post-box that is restricted to earlier collections and that there will be clear sign-posting for customers on relevant post-boxes notifying them of their nearest late-posting box.The majority of the 115,000 post-boxes around the country do however retain a 4pm or later final collection.

Department for International Development

Malawi: Sanitation

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on water, sanitation and hygiene services in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in Malawi in each of the last five years; and how much such spending her Department has planned in each of the next five years.

Grant Shapps: DFID has committed £21.6m in funding for water, sanitation and hygiene in Malawi since 2010. By mid-2016, UK aid will have ensured that 750,000 people in Malawi will benefit from safer water and improved sanitation. Full details of DFID funding to Malawi are published on the Development Tracker website: http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/. DFID is currently in the process of finalising its programme portfolio for 2016-2020 and will decide any continued investments in WASH accordingly.

Liberia: Sanitation

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on water, sanitation and hygiene services in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in Liberia in each of the last five years; and how much such spending her Department has planned in each of the next five years.

Grant Shapps: DFID has spent £6.8m on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services (WASH) programmes in Liberia since 2009. This includes work on both physical infrastructure and hygiene promotion in rural and urban areas; however the data is not broken down in the format requested. In addition to support for water, sanitation and hygiene services, DFID has supported the World Bank Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund (LRTF) since its inception, which has resulted in improved solid waste management and collection in Monrovia. Full details of DFID funding to Liberia are published on the Development Tracker website: http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/. DFID is currently in the process of finalising its programme portfolio for 2016-2020 and will decide any continued investments in WASH accordingly.

Central African Republic: Health and Nutrition

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of UK aid funding for health and nutrition programmes in the Central African Republic.

Grant Shapps: The UK is currently the second largest bilateral humanitarian donor to the Central African Republic. Since 2013, DFID has contributed £34 million to programmes supporting healthcare and nutrition for Central Africans and Central African refugees. In 2015, we hope to reach more than 300,000 people with health and nutritional assistance in CAR.

Caribbean: Storms

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to people affected by Tropical Storm Erika.

Grant Shapps: Working through the Pan American Health Organisation and the International Federation of the Red Cross, DFID has been able to provide medical supplies and health care response workers and support efforts to re-establish safe drinking water provision, proper hygiene and sanitation in communities affected by Tropical Storm Erika. This immediate assistance also included the deployment of Royal Fleet Auxiliary Lyme Bay which provided significant humanitarian support to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica including the provision of 7,170 hot meals, 78,000 litres of water (bottled and containerised), 20 tonnes of dry provisions and treatment of 35 patients ashore. The ship’s company also removed an estimated 600 tonnes of earth in clearing homes and roads, clearing and restoring a number of key public buildings and the clearing and opening of the bridge in Dublanque.

Mozambique: Sanitation

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on water, sanitation and hygiene services in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in Mozambique in each of the last five years; and how much such spending her Department has planned in each of the next five years.

Grant Shapps: UK has spent £23.9 million in rural water and sanitation in Mozambique over the past five years. Our programme includes direct support and technical assistance to government to plan, build and maintain water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. We have also worked with UNICEF, a global leader in the provision of WASH services. Over the past four years the UK has helped an additional 2.3 million people gain access to clean water and a further 2.1 million to sanitation. Full details of DFID funding to Mozambique are published on the Development Tracker website: http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/. DFID is currently in the process of finalising its programme portfolio for 2016-2020 and will decide any continued investments in WASH accordingly.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Freedom of Information

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many hours her Department spent on processing freedom of information requests in each of the last 24 months.

Nick Gibb: Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are dealt with by the relevant policy teams across the Department for Education as a core business function, with support from a small policy advisory team. The processing of FOI requests is accordingly an integral part of civil servants' responsibilities and the number of hours spent on this activity is not separately identifiable.

Vocational Guidance: Internet

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps are being taken to ensure the impartiality of the online careers advice service recommended in the Department's statutory guidance to schools.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The statutory guidance for schools on careers guidance and inspiration, published by the Department for Education, underpins the duty on schools to secure independent careers guidance for pupils in years 8-13. Organisations and careers services named throughout the statutory document and the accompanying non-statutory document are provided as examples of good practice and are not specifically endorsed by government. It is for schools to decide how best to fulfil their legal requirements in accordance with the needs of their pupils, and online careers advice services may form part of their independent careers provision.   As stated in the statutory guidance, the National Careers Service offers information and professional advice about education, training and work to adults and young people aged 13 years and over. Pupils and their parents can access support via a website, helpline and web chat. The National Careers Service contractors, website and helpline advisers all hold and adhere to the government’s Matrix Standard, the recognised national quality standard for information, advice and guidance services. Award of the Standard is contingent on the provision of an impartial, professional service.

Ministry of Justice

Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timescales and processes are for the handover of Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre from G4S Care and Justice Services to MTCnovo

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Youth Justice Board intends to extend the contract with G4S at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre for five months to ensure a smooth transfer to the new provider.  During this period MTCnovo's mobilisation team will work on site with G4S to manage the transfer.   YJB staff will also work on site with both MTCnovo and G4S to monitor the progress of mobilisation and transformation and to ensure young people are accommodated in a safe and stable environment throughout.

Ministry of Defence

World War II: Military Decorations

Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2015 to Question 219983, whether arrangements for the award of the Arctic Star medal indicate that the presumption against double-medalling set out in that Answer is no longer in force.

Mr Philip Dunne: The general principle of 'double medalling' remains extant. The issue of a medal for those who served on Arctic Convoys was looked at by Sir John Holmes in his Review of Military Medals, which was conducted independently of the Ministry of Defence. Sir John's recommendation was that an award (the Arctic Star) would be appropriate and this was agreed by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals and Her Majesty The Queen. Sir John felt that the Arctic Convoy operation was a separate and distinct campaign, geographically and in every other way, from what was happening in the Atlantic, and should have been considered in that light. As it would be impractical and unfair to withdraw the Atlantic Star from those awarded the Arctic Star, it is considered that double medalling has not occurred in this case.While not diminishing the hardships and hazards of the Atlantic Convoys, the Arctic Convoys were subjected to uniquely appalling weather conditions and such an intensity of enemy air and sea attacks that they merited separate recognition from service in the Atlantic and it was therefore felt that this was an exceptional case.With regards to double medalling and the Ushakov Medal, Her Majesty's Government have always been appreciative of the Russian Government's wish to honour these brave men. A recommendation was therefore made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to exceptionally allow the Ushakov Medal to be accepted and worn. President Putin presented the first medals during his visit to London on 16 June 2013.

Ministry of Defence: Freedom of Information

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many hours his Department spent on processing freedom of information requests in each of the last 24 months.

Mr Philip Dunne: The processing of Freedom of Information requests is an integral part of civil servants' responsibilities. The number of hours spent on this activity is not separately identifiable.

Armed Forces: EU Countries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of recent proposals by his German counterpart on increased integration and co-operation of EU member states' armed forces.

Mr Julian Brazier: Although we welcome closer co-operation between the armed forces of EU and NATO member states, this needs to be based on improving defence capabilities across Europe, not creating new institutions. We will not support measures which would undermine member states' competence for their own military forces, or lead to competition and duplication with NATO.

Afghanistan: Immigration

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghan interpreters who have worked with the armed forces have had their application for relocation to the UK rejected in the last year.

Mr Philip Dunne: Under the Ex Gratia Redundancy Scheme over 400 former locally employed staff have been offered the opportunity to apply for relocation to the UK. No applications have been refused under this scheme to date and over 170 of these local staff, along with their immediate families, have been successfully relocated to the UK so far. In addition to the redundancy scheme we have our Intimidation Policy, where staff can contact a dedicated team based in Kabul for support if they are being intimidated because of their work with British Forces. Under this scheme individuals do not apply for relocation to the UK; they provide us with information about their case which is then investigated thoroughly. Appropriate mitigation measures are provided to the local staff member, which can include bespoke security advice, relocation within Afghanistan, and in certain cases, relocation to the UK.

Gibraltar: Spain

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to protect Gibraltar against further armed incursions into Gibraltarian waters by Spanish authorities.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government takes its responsibility for protecting the sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters very seriously. The Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron is at the forefront of our response to Spanish incursions, and will continue to challenge all unlawful actions by Spanish state vessels.The Spanish Government has reassured us that safety of lives at sea is a top priority for all concerned and that their law enforcement agencies will operate with respect for this principle. The Spanish Government has also agreed to our proposal to step up law enforcement cooperation. The Government will continue to press them to honour this agreement.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether representations are being made to the United States Department of Defense to ensure that the certification and testing process for the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter is adequate to ensure that it is ready for full operational deployment.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Ministry of Defence is using data from tests undertaken aboard USS Wasp in May 2015 in the certification process for the F-635B Joint Strike Fighter.

Mr Philip Dunne: The UK is fully engaged with the US Department of Defense to ensure that testing of the F-35B will generate the necessary data to enable UK certification of the air system.UK personnel observed the US Marine Corps trials on board USS Wasp in May 2015 and gained valuable experience of operating the F-35B at sea. This knowledge, along with a dedicated programme of trials will be used to certify the F-35B for use on the UK's new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.UK certification of the F-35B is an ongoing process, and is planned to deliver the necessary clearances to support the UK's carrier strike Initial Operating Capability from QUEEN ELIZABETH during 2018.

Department for Work and Pensions

Pensions Ombudsman: Appeals

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedures are in place for challenges to Pension Ombudsman decisions based on false information having been provided to the Ombudsman.

Justin Tomlinson: In the unlikely event that this occurred, the determination could be subject to judicial review in the High Court. A Pension Ombudsman's determination can also be challenged on a point of law in the High Court.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Freedom of Information

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many hours her Department spent on processing freedom of information requests in each of the last 24 months.

Rory Stewart: Defra does not record the time processing Freedom of Information Act requests.

Plastic Bags: Fees and Charges

Craig Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans for a vari-gauge bag, where the variation in gauge ranges from 35 to 45 microns and totals 80 microns, to be exempt from proposed charges on plastic bags; and whether she plans for vari-gauge bags with any combination of variation in gauge which totals more than 71 microns to be exempt from such charges.

Rory Stewart: There are no current plans to exempt vari-gauge bags from the single use plastic bag charge.

Avian Influenza

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures her Department has in place to control avian influenza outbreaks.

George Eustice: The Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain sets out how an outbreak of avian influenza would be managed and what measures would be applied in such an eventuality. This is available at:   www.gov.uk/government/publications/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy-for-great-britain.   The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland has published its own notifiable avian disease control strategy covering Northern Ireland. This is available at:   www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health-and-welfare/disease-control-prevention/notifiable-epizootic-avian-disease-control-strategy.htm.

Japanese Knotweed

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to minimise the spread of knotweed.

George Eustice: Between 2011 and March 2015, Defra provided grant aid to help set up and establish 29 local action groups throughout England to tackle invasive non-native species, including Japanese knotweed. The establishment of these groups was intended to generate a self-sustaining network to tackle these threats. The majority have managed to reduce or eradicate Japanese knotweed from riparian areas and are continuing to do so.   Additionally, Defra has been funding research to make a biocontrol agent available to control the plant and has identified the psyllid, Aphalara itadori. Although it has not yet been possible to achieve self-sustaining populations of the psyllid in the wild, a new release programme was undertaken this summer in riparian areas, utilising local action groups to aid release.   The recent provisions of Community Protection notices, provided for in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, are also available for use by local authorities to control or prevent the growth of Japanese knotweed where they are satisfied that there is a case to do so.

Home Office

Nurses: Visas

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of nurses from outside the European Economic area who will lose their Tier 2 visas because of the requirement that within six years of coming to the UK they must be earning £35,000 or more.

Mr John Hayes: The Government first announced in 2011 our intentions to reform the settlement rules, and those new rules would apply to migrants who entered Tier 2 from 2011.Following a public consultation, we announced the details of the new rules in 2012. From 6 April 2016, Tier 2 (skilled worker) visa holders who apply for settlement in the UK will be required to meet a minimum annual salary requirement of £35,000.The Home Office published a full impact assessment on the changes to Tier 2 settlement rules when they were laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. The impact assessment is available on the gov.uk website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf.

HM Treasury

Social Security Benefits

Cat Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2015 to Question 8088, if he will make it his policy to conduct an assessment of the potential effect of proposed changes to tax credits and housing benefit in the Summer Budget 2015 on the number of abortions in the UK.

Damian Hinds: I refer the hon Member to my answer of 11 September.   No assessment has been made of the potential effect of proposed changes to tax credits and housing benefit in the Summer Budget 2015 on the number of abortions in the UK.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

Stephen McPartland: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will potentially lose their personal tax allowance as a result of the provisions set out in clause 24 of the Finance Bill 2015.

Mr David Gauke: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

Stephen McPartland: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of lower rate income tax payers who will potentially be moved into the higher rate as a result of the provisions set out in clause 24 of the Finance Bill 2015.

Mr David Gauke: It is assumed that the question refers to clause 24 of the Summer 2015 Finance Bill: relief for finance costs related to residential property businesses.   To make the tax system fairer, the Government will restrict the amount of tax relief landlords can claim on property finance costs (such as mortgage interest or interest on loans to buy furnishings) to the basic rate of tax. This will ensure that landlords with the largest incomes no longer receive the most generous tax treatment. To give landlords time to adjust the Government will introduce this change over 4 years starting from April 2017.   The actual number of taxpayers affected will depend on behavioural changes and other economic factors.

Foreign Relations: Iran

Andrew Rosindell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect on the UK economy of improved relations with Iran.

Harriett Baldwin: The reopening of the UK Embassy in Tehran in August followed gradual expansion of our bilateral engagement with Iran over the last two years, allowing us to discuss a broad range of issues, including areas where we and Iran have sharply differing views.   The nuclear deal agreed in July will give the international community confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme, by imposing strict limits and inspections on its nuclear activity. If Iran completes the agreed actions on its nuclear programme, and nuclear related economic and financial sanctions on Iran are lifted, there will also be commercial opportunities for UK firms and indirect impacts on the UK economy, for example via global energy prices.   However, the impact of the deal will be complex, and the impact of improved relations with Iran on the UK economy is therefore uncertain.

Economic situation: China

Andrew Rosindell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of China's economic slowdown on the UK economy.

Mr David Gauke: The Treasury continuously monitors global economic developments, including those in China, and their impact on the UK as part of the normal process of policy development.   As one of the most open trading economies in the world with a large financial sector, we have to recognise that the UK is not immune to the continued problems being experienced in the world economy.   We should not let this put us off. As the Chancellor recently said, while leading the UK’s Economic and Financial Dialogue with China this week, both countries: “have a shared commitment to laying the foundations for stronger, more productive economies that can weather periods of uncertainty. At the same time, we need to continue to pursue the longer-term reform challenges that both our governments are pursuing.”

Theatre: Tax Allowances

Nigel Huddleston: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish guidance notes on theatre tax relief.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is currently migrating hundreds of existing guidance manuals from its own website to GOV.UK. HMRC expects the changeover to be completed over the next few months. The department's priority has been moving existing manuals, but I am pleased to say that the Theatre Tax Relief Manual will be one of the first new manuals to be published on GOV.UK. In the interim, HMRC will shortly make available a temporary version via GOV.UK.  The theatre tax relief was introduced with effect from 1 September 2014. The regime provides relief for companies producing qualifying theatrical productions. There is a special unit within HMRC for the creative industries that regularly advise taxpayers on this relief and how to make claims.

Social Services: Pay

Paul Blomfield: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 3 November 2014 to Question 211605, if he will instruct HM Revenue and Customs to keep data in a format that will enable provision of the statistics requested on the amount of arrears paid or not paid to workers.

Mr David Gauke: The government takes enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. Anyone who feels they have been underpaid NMW should contact the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HMRC review all complaints referred to them.   HMRC maintain data of arrears recovered and actively pursue recovery through the civil courts where this is not paid. It is not government policy to provide in-year data as it has not been fully validated. HMRC record outstanding arrears being pursued for earlier years but this data cannot be broken down into individual years due to the way it is maintained. There are no plans to change the way HMRC’s data is maintained as it would be disproportionately expensive to do so.

Inheritance Tax

Bob Stewart: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to extend inheritance tax relief to (a) a mother and father and (b) a sibling or siblings living together in the family home.

Mr David Gauke: At the Summer Budget 2015, the Government announced it will reduce the burden of inheritance tax for families by making it easier to pass on a home to direct descendants. Information about this measure is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band/inheritance-tax-main-residence-nil-rate-band-and-the-existing-nil-rate-band.   The Government has sought to focus on the passing of homes to the next generation in the immediate family. This ensures that parents know they will be able to pass on the family home that they have worked hard for to the next generation without the worry of inheritance tax. Around 80% of estates with both a residence and an inheritance tax liability are expected to be in a position to benefit.

Farms: Non-domestic Rates

Nigel Adams: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes have been made relating to section 385 of the Valuation Office Agency's Rating Manual on the rating of farm and agricultural land used for festivals; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: There have been no changes to section 385 of the Valuation Office Agency’s (VOA) Rating Manual regarding the rating of farm and agricultural land used for festivals.  The VOA is currently reviewing festival sites to ensure that those which should be assessed for business rates are rated correctly. It is also working with the events sector to draw up guidance to help organisers better understand when liability for business rates will arise.

Bank Cards: Fees and Charges

Ian Paisley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what input the Payment Systems Regulator has in the Government's decision on which card schemes are to be designated for regulation.

Ian Paisley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the scale of the competitive advantage gained by three-party schemes in their exemption from designation under the Payment Systems Regulator; and if he will publish the results of any such assessment.

Mr David Gauke: The Government consulted on which payment systems should be brought into the scope of the Payment Systems Regulator in November 2014. The decision to designate eight systems, including two card schemes, was based on the designation criteria set out in the Financial Services Act 2013, using the evidence that the Payment Systems Regulator gathered from industry.   Based on these criteria, the Government does not consider any three-party card schemes to be appropriate for designation at this time. The Government keeps this position under review through annual horizon-scanning exercises by the Payments Systems Regulator.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Solar Power: Employment

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many people work in the solar industry in (a) London and (b) the UK; and what steps she is taking to support employment in that industry.

Andrea Leadsom: A report by BIS, published in March 2015, suggested that in 2013 34,400 people were employed in the wider solar PV sector and its supply chain, although this is likely to include companies that have an involvement in the solar sector without solar being their core business. The BIS report can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416240/bis-15-206-size-and-performance-of-uk-low-carbon-economy.pdf. DECC does not maintain regional statistics on distribution of jobs around UK.

Renewables Obligation

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect on investor confidence of the decision to consult on ending grandfathering under the Renewables Obligation.

Andrea Leadsom: An Impact Assessment[1] on the consultation on “Changes to Financial Support for Solar PV”[2] which includes the proposal to remove grandfathering under the Renewables Obligation (RO) for solar PV projects at 5MW and below, was published on the DECC website on 22 July 2015. This includes at paragraph 59 an assessment of the impact on other renewables investment.As part of the consultation process we have also invited interested parties to provide information on deployment and investment. The consultation closed on 2 September 2015. We are reviewing the responses and expect to publish the Government Response later in the Autumn.  [1] See: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447323/Solar_PV_within_the_RO_consultation_-_Impact_Assessment.pdf [2] See: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447321/Solar_PV_within_the_RO_consultation.pdf

Renewable Energy: Carbon Emissions

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many tonnes of carbon dioxide were displaced by renewable (a) electricity and (b) heat generation in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Wales in 2014.

Andrea Leadsom: The table below shows how many tonnes of carbon dioxide were displaced by renewable electricity in each of the UK, England, Scotland and Wales in 2014.  UKEnglandScotlandWalesCarbon dioxide displaced by renewableelectricity generation(million tonnes) 41.5 26.0 12.3 2.2Carbon emissions displaced by renewable electricity generation have been calculated as renewable electricity generation multiplied by the average emissions factor for electricity supplied by fossil fuel stations in 2014. A breakdown of electricity generation for the UK countries can be found in Energy Trends table ET 6.1 at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewablesCarbon dioxide emissions factors for electricity supplied can be found in table 5D of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2015, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukesInformation on the carbon savings from the total renewable heat produced in the UK is not available. Chapter 6 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics provides more information on renewable heat, and shows that 2,730 ktoe of renewable fuels were used to generate heat in 2014. The full renewable energy chapter is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans the Government has to reduce the Feed-in-Tariff; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC is currently consulting on a review of the feed-in tariff scheme. The consultation sets out proposals for the future of the scheme and can be found online athttps://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-review-of-the-feed-in-tariff-scheme.The consultation will close on 23 October.

Carbon Emissions

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2025.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government is committed to meeting its targets for carbon emission reductions. The steps we are taking to achieve these targets include:• helping consumers and businesses to save money on their energy bills;• making buildings more energy efficient;• helping consumers to take control of their energy use with smart meters, and• decarbonising the power sector in the most cost effective way.We will shortly be publishing our response on the Committee on Climate Change’s Annual Progress Report. This will outline in more detail the steps we are taking. In addition, we will bring forward further proposals on how we plan to meet our carbon targets over the course of next year.

Nuclear Installations: Decommissioning

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an assessment of the marginal annual cost to the public purse of delaying the UK's nuclear decommissioning programme.

Andrea Leadsom: The Secretary of State keeps the costs of all DECC’s policies under review. Decisions on departmental budgets will be made as part of the current Spending Review, due to report in the Autumn.

Solar Power: Housing

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many domestic solar PV installations were made in the UK in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Andrea Leadsom: The table below provides the number of domestic solar PV installations in the UK from 2010 to 2015 (data up to June for 2015). Data for Great Britain are for installations supported by the Feed in Tariff, designated as being for domestic use. For Northern Ireland, there is no breakdown of sector available, but all installations are less than 50 kW, and are all included here. YearGBNIUK201021,0444121,0852011189,280155189,4352012148,483775149,258201388,5703,77992,3492014113,0806,634119,714201539,1182,83041,948Source:GB data from the Central Feed-in Tariff Register, as at end of June 2015. A snap shot of cumulative installations as at the end of June 2015 is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/sub-regional-feed-in-tariffs-confirmed-on-the-cfr-statisticsData for Northern Ireland from the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (and Renewables Obligation), also available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/solar-photovoltaics-deployment.

Energy: Meters

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if her Department will take steps to ensure that households which use prepayment meters do not pay higher charges than households which do not use such meters.

Andrea Leadsom: Suppliers are required under the terms in their supply licence to ensure that differences in charges for different payment methods, which include the use of prepayment meters, reflect the costs they face to provide that payment method.Across the market the prices of prepayment meter tariffs are now largely the same as those of standard variable tariffs and we are starting to see more improvements in the pre-payment meter market with the development of smart meters, for example E.ON is currently piloting a Smart Pay-As-You Go tariff for customers using a smart prepayment meter who then pay the same prices as the company’s direct debit customers and they expect to make the tariff more widely available to new and existing customers from next year.

Solar Power: Technology

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) export opportunities and (b) international growth potential of UK solar technology companies.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC has been actively working with UKTI and other colleagues across Whitehall to identify new opportunities for the UK solar sector, promote the sector overseas through trade missions and other similar activities, and will continue to do so.

Cycling: Carbon Emissions

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on promoting cycling as a method for reducing carbon emissions.

Andrea Leadsom: My Right Honourable Friend has had frequent discussions with all relevant Secretaries of State, including the Secretary of State for Transport, on the options for reducing the UK’s carbon emissions. This is in advance of the Government outlining our plan, over the course of next year, for how we will meet our carbon targets.

Plutonium

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency paper on plutonium disposition will be published; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The NDA is in the process of submitting this draft advice to support DECC in its considerations. This, together with other sources of information and evidence, will enable DECC to consider options for the way forward. A decision will be made by ministers in due course how to proceed.NDA intend to publish a public position paper in due course summarising the outcome of the latest phase of work.Only when the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, that it is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, will it be in a position to proceed.

Electricity Generation: Costs

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits of using (a) total system costs and (b) levelised electricity costs to evaluate and prioritise different forms of power generation.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC publishes estimates for the levelised costs of electricity generation for different technologies. The most recent estimates are available in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs (December 2013) report, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdfThe above levelised costs however do not take into account all of the wider positive or negative impacts that a power station may impose on the electricity system. So far, DECC’s electricity modelling has considered these wider whole system impacts through a system wide cost-benefit analysis.To systematise DECC’s evidence base on whole system impacts and be able to present these impacts on a technology by technology basis, DECC has commissioned external research at the end of 2014. The project has three phases. Phase 1 aims to define and estimate the current impacts on the system from each technology type. Phase 2 aims to further develop DECC’s internal modelling capability to formally deal with the evolution of the whole system impacts over time and Phase 3 aims to undertake scenario analysis to assess whole system impacts of different technologies across different states of the world. The work on the project is currently still ongoing.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many hours his Department spent on processing freedom of information requests in each of the last 24 months.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The estimated cost of the central processing of FoI requests at the Cabinet Office is £381,760.89. This includes the costs associated with the central operational and legal teams coordinating and advising on FOI requests across the department. It does not include litigation costs or the costs outside the central team as handling FoI requests is part of other civil servants’ wider duties and the detailed information requested is not separately identifiable.

Department of Health

Department of Health: Freedom of Information

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hours his Department spent on processing freedom of information requests in each of the last 24 months.

Jane Ellison: Staff throughout the Department consider requests made under the Freedom of Information Act as part of their duties, and time spent is not accounted for separately. A central team of five full-time staff manages the caseload and gives advice on Freedom of Information Act requests.

NHS: Temporary Employment

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of employing agency staff to cover staff shortages within the NHS in the last three years for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The information on the cost to the public purse of employing agency staff to cover staff shortages within the National Health Service in the last three years is not held centrally.